A tax increase is an option, one board member says
Yet another school system appears poised to act after last month's mass school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Savannahnow.com and The Savannah Morning News report that the Savannah-Chatham County school board is preparing to take extra steps to keep students and staff safe. At a meeting this week, board member Shawn Kachmar said he is fired up and ready to fund more resources. "And I don't mean at budget time. I mean tomorrow," Kachmar said. At least one board member said she would be willing to consider a hike in property taxes if that's what it takes. Seventeen people were killed and 17 more were wounded in the shooting at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.
Heir to Macon’s music heritage qualifies to run for Georgia House
The Macon Telegraph and macon.com report that there could be somewhat of a celebrity in the House — the Georgia House that is. The paper reports that Jessica Walden, an heir to Macon's music heritage, qualified this week to run for a House seat. Walden is a communications consultant and co-founder of Rock Candy Tours, a company showcasing Macon's music history. She is the niece of the late Phil Walden, the well-known co-founder of Macon-based Capricorn Records. She'll be running for the House District 144 seat, currently held by state Rep. Bubber Epps. At least two other Democrats and two Republicans have qualified for the seat, the paper reports. Epps, a Republican from Dry Branch, has announced that he is not seeking re-election.
Tax dispute legislation placed in limbo
The Brunswick News is reporting that state Rep. Don Hogan, R-St. Simons Island, has put on the back burner legislation dealing with lawsuits over property taxes. Hogan introduced House Bill 1012 a month after the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a class-action lawsuit alleging Glynn County overcharged residents on their property taxes from 2001 to 2010, the paper reports. The bill would have prevented a taxpayer from filing a lawsuit on behalf of a class of taxpayers over allegations they were all overcharged and due refunds.
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